Automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers

ABSTRACT

An automatic actuator is provided for conveying the pressurized fluid from an aerosol container into an automotive system such as an air conditioner or a pneumatic tire. The preferred actuator comprises a selectively rotatable first subassembly equipped with a coupling device to be rapidly engaged and locked onto a conventional fitting of the automotive system and a first force transmitting member disposed inside a generally cylindrical channel and the transmitting member is movable along the channel to operate the valve of a charging port of an automotive system. Another end of the core depressor is in an interlinked relation with a second force transmitting element disposed inside the base portion of the adapter. An assembled adapter provides an uninterruptible link between two force transmitting elements such that, when the assembly is fitted onto an aerosol can and a coupling device is locked onto the charging fitting of an automotive system, the first transmitting element opens the charging valve. The reacting force from this action is transferred to the second force transmitting element which in turn opens a valve of an aerosol can, allowing fluid to escape from the can through the internal channel formed using the assembled adapter, into the system to be charged. The pressure proof joint of the two sub assemblies is provided by a rubber o-ring and snap-on assembly elements that allow the selective rotation of the coupling portion of the adapter around the base and at the same time prevent the escape of fluids. The coupling portion of the adapter can be positioned at any angle from 90 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the can. A rubber seal fitted inside the base portion of the adapter and resting upon the top face of the can provides a leakage proof fitting between the adapter and an aerosol can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to apparatus for dispensing pressurized fluids from aerosol containers into automotive systems.

More particularly the invention relates to self-actuating adaptors for convening fluid from pressurized aerosol containers into automotive systems equipped with conventional fittings.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are prior art devices known to connect an aerosol container to a receiver. These types of devices are used, for example, to recharge or retrofit an air conditioning system of a car with an approved refrigerant and oil or to convey chemical additives into the system to boost the performance or to provide required maintenance. The majority of aerosol containers available commercially to the consumer to perform such system recharging or maintenance are equipped with an aerosol valve, which must be depressed to become open and to allow the dispensing of fluid from it. Thus, a typical aerosol can dispensing system, the example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,190, usually includes a hose attached to the can valve actuator by one end and with a coupling device disposed at another end. The user must attach a coupler to the standard fitting, which belongs to the automotive system and after that must depress the actuator and hold it down during the whole process of charging. During the charging process, the can becomes very cold and uncomfortable to hold in one's hands.

The length of the hose as well as a particular arrangement of parts is regulated by the SAE standards in order to limit air pollution by chemicals used in automotive applications. For instance, the allowable length of the charging hose is limited to 12 inches. Thus, there are plenty of hazardous chemicals which will be lawfully introduced into the atmosphere with every can used. Because of the temperature drop during the release of the can's contents into the system, the charging hose, which is generally cumbersome as it is, becomes even less flexible making the process additionally difficult. The charging port is always provided by the car manufacturer to make access into the system possible. The location and orientation of the charging port is varied on different car models. It is not adequately easy to access the port with the dispensing devices currently available due to various port orientations.

Thus, the prior art and our experience demonstrates that there is a need for an automatic can valve actuator with a rapid coupling mechanism for hands-free operation of an aerosol can and particularly an actuator with a selectively rotatable head to accommodate different situations with the service port location on various motor vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems disclosed above are solved by the actuator in accordance with the present invention. The offered actuator rapidly couples with a conventional fitting known to be installed on the majority of vehicles.

The system provided in this invention allows for the automatic actuation of the aerosol can valve as soon as the rapid coupling portion of an actuator is engaged with a charging port and locked onto it. The charging process is automatically stopped after releasing the coupling device and removing the coupling end of the actuator from a port. This is provided by the interlinking of the two force transmitting members when the displacement of one of them will cause equal displacement of the other.

Thus, when the coupling device is attached to the service port, the depression rod moves away from the port after the port valve becomes fully open and cannot move any further. This relative backward motion causes a force to be applied to a can valve thus opening it and letting the can's contents to be dispensed into the system through the passage formed between the walls of the channels of the actuator's housing and the flutes formed on the surface of the force transmitting elements.

After locking the coupler onto the charging port of the air conditioning system there is no need for any action on the part of the person and the charging canister can be left alone until the complete evacuation of the can's content.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the coupling portion of the actuator can be selectively rotated around the base portion and can be positioned at any angle from 90 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the can. This feature allows adapting the actuator to a variety of port orientations and also to positioning an aerosol container in the most suitable way as to avoid interference with the automotive system's surroundings and also to provide the complete emptying of the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view in accordance with the invention

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the actuator positioned along the axis of a can

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the actuator attached to an aerosol can

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the actuator. A coupler head positioned 90 degrees relative to a can

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the actuator. A coupler head positioned 135 degrees relative to a can

FIG. 6 is a sectional exploded view in accordance with the invention

FIG. 7 is a side exploded view in accordance with the invention

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, actuator assembly of FIG. 1 includes a base subassembly 100 and a coupler subassembly 200. All the parts included in the actuator assembly are made of synthetic resin material such as Nylon 6, Nylon 66 or any other resin recipe having adequate physical and mechanical properties and also chemically inert with respect to the fluid to be conveyed.

The coupler assembly comprising movable collar 10, cylindrical housing 11 with row of orifices to accept detents 13, actuating spring 14, retaining ring 15 and the sealing member 16.

The coupler 70 is to provide a fast and leakage free connection between the actuator and a conventional charging port 55 of an automotive system as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The base housing 60 has a centrally positioned recess 20 located in close proximity to the face of the can valve and separated from it by a gasket 21.

The actuator has two movable force transmitting members—a depression stem 30, which belongs to the coupler subassembly and a valve-actuating rod 31, which belongs to the base subassembly. The coupling portion of the actuator can be selectively rotated around the base portion and can be positioned at any angle from 90 degrees to 180 degrees relative to the can 66. However the angle formed between the two force transmitting members is always constant and equal to 135 degrees. The illustrations presented in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show positions of the coupling head at 180, 90 and 135 degrees respectively.

The first element of the rotatable joint between two subassemblies is provided in the form of an annular groove 41 located on the exterior portion of the cylindrical tail 61 of the base housing 60 in close proximity to the comer shoulder. The other portion of this joint includes a plurality of lips 62 which snap into provided groove upon connecting the coupling subassembly to the base.

The central hole 50 of the coupling housing 51 is fitted with the o-ring 52 as to preclude fluid escape through the joint under the operating pressure.

After the preferred elements—the coupler subassembly 200 and the base subassembly 100—are connected together the accepting and departing chambers form a fluid conveying channel along the axis a-a.

Flutes 77 and 88 are provided at the surfaces of the depression rod and the valve-actuating rod to allow an unrestricted flow of fluid through the integral dispensing channel. 

1. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers comprising: a base subassembly and coupler subassembly, and an interior channel formed by hollow chambers of said subassemblies through a sealed joint, said coupler subassembly to be sealingly and rotatably connected to a base subassembly, said coupler to be sealingly engaged and locked with a charging port of an automotive system, said base to be sealingly attached to a valve end of a pressurized aerosol container; a first force transmitting member disposed inside a hollow chamber of the coupler and a second force transmitting member disposed inside a hollow chamber of the base, said force transmitting members always being in the interlinked relation at the angle of 135 degrees to each other disregarding their position in relation to a charging container; wherein any displacement of said first force transmitting member causes equal displacement of the second force transmitting member, thus when applied to a charging port of an automotive system such interaction causes both valves to open automatically and quasi-simultaneously.
 2. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein coupler is attached and locked onto a charging port by means of displaceable detents.
 3. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein base of said actuator is rotatably attached to a valve end of a aerosol container.
 4. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a base to be sealingly fitted onto valve end of an aerosol can.
 5. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein said actuator is attached to valve.
 6. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein coupler comprises at least one displaceable detent.
 7. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein depression pin force transmitting member is movable towards the base
 8. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein said actuator is made of synthetic resin parts.
 9. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein a cog is utilized to provide a desirable indexing of a coupler head relative to the base.
 10. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 comprising a coupler head wherein said coupler head can be positioned at various angles from 90 to 180 degrees relative to an aerosol container.
 11. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises at least two force transmitting members
 12. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises at least two housing members.
 13. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 10 wherein said housing members are relatively rotatable.
 14. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 10 wherein said housing members are selectively rotatable.
 15. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 9 wherein said force transmitting members are comprising at least one set of continues flutes.
 16. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 9 wherein said force transmitting members are in a constricted relation to each other
 17. An automatic actuator assembly for aerosol containers according to claim 1 wherein the rotation of a coupler head actuates a valve of a pressurized container. 